This offseason and next season are huge ones for Minnesota. McHale has to make a major move or it is over for them. There is no way that Garnett rides oiut another season of mediocrity without a chance to play for a championship. If they don't make major personnel changes, I would look for Garnett to announce he is going to opt out to force a trade. And I think Minny gets taken to the cleaners on that deal. Garnett can pretty much call his shots on where he wants to go because of his opt out option. No team is going to be willing to give up the farm for a guy that won't re-sign. So, in my opinoin, Garnett, barring a major shakeup in Minny is headed for one of either the Knicks, Bulls, or Lakers. It's really going to be interesting to see how the Lakers manage their offseason. I don't think Garnett really wants to go to the Knicks with all that chaos. I think he either wants to go to Chicago or he wants the Lakers to play with Kobe and company. And if he plays his cards right, I think he could wind up in LA with Kobe and Lamar. Can you imagine, Kobe, Garnett, and Lamar all on the same team? All Garnett has to do to make this happen is to let it be known that he is opting out and he will not sign with anybody but the Lakers. He can back Minny right down in a corner and force them to deal him to LA for some combination of Bynum, Kwame's expiring, a couple first rounders and some combination of spare parts. Luol Deng is looking more and more like a true max player to me. Can't see Paxson moving him. And can't see Chicago having much else that would be better than Bynum and a couple picks. I think Deng, Kirk, Gordon, and Big Ben are Chicago's core and they are looking to add one more low post scorer to that combo and they will be set. Either way, bottom line, I don't see Garnett sitting in Minny another year without a major talent upgrade on that team and I don't know where they are going to get it from............................unless they win the lottery.
Or he could stay and be content with losing. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2842977 http://www.startribune.com/507/story/1132730.html
if Garnett really wanted to leave Minnesota, he would've left by now. He's not going anywhere...Minnesota is his team.
He may leave Minnesota, but it certainly doesn't seem like he will do it by giving the organization a big middle finger on the way out and forcing them to only take Andrew Bynum and a few picks from a team, who, with him, would be a high seeded playoff contender every year. Plus, there are other trade potentialities. If you're Denver, would you turn around and swap AI, Nene and a pick for Garnett? I probably would (and almost be less concerned about losing AI as losing Nene). If you're Utah, would you part with Okur, AK47 and some picks? If you're Cleveland, would you part with Gooden, Hughes and some picks? If you're Atlanta and don't land a top 3 pick, would you trade this year's pick in the 4-6 range and some change? Granted, this is a situation that Garnett would probably not like. EDIT: I forgot about Phoenix getting Atlanta's pick.....damn, I hate you Phoenix! Couldn't Washington contend with KG? Caron Butler, Etan Thomas plus picks for Garnett? Would Detroit shake things up if they don't win this year? What about Dallas now? They've got pieces and an owner who would do something crazy like that. A KG/Dirk 4/5 combination would be sick, even if it meant losing Howard and Harris, or something like that. I think there will be more options out there that are equally appealing to KG, the T-Wolves, and the other team. Not saying those above are likely or better scenarios, but they are options.
As I've said before if Garnett gets traded this summer than he will most likely go to Phoenix for Marion + 4th pick (Atlanta).
KG and Dirk on the same team? those guys don't even wanna touch the ball on critical games.. it should be the other way around Howard and Harris showed and stepped up for the playoffs this year while Dirk disappeared.. so KG for Dirk straight up is better for Dallas.. and are there alot of Germans in Minny?
He's forgotten what it's like to win. He is content with being mediocre so he will stay and rake in the cash.
You missed my point. My first point is it's not about what Minny can get for him. It's about where KG wants to go. Sure, if he wants to go to any of those teams, then he will be willing to sign an extension with them. So, they can then make a move for him. No team is going to give Minny anything without a commitment from KG that he wants to go there and he is going to re-sign with them. My second point is knowing how much money KG has made in his career and knowing his great desire to win, I think he's going to want to go to LA where he would have the best chance of winning. I could see him being interested in the Phoenix deal if it came along. But I still think he would prefer LA. And I definitely don't see him wanting Utah. Cleveland with Lebron possibly. Denver??? No. And besides that. Minny is already dealing with Mike James and they already have Randy Foye. They wouldn't be the slightest bit interested in getting AI. Even if KG wanted to go to Denver (which I don't think he would), I think they would rather let him walk and get the cap space back as opposed to taking on Iverson's deal and Iverson's attitude. The fact is it doesn't matter what teams would want him and what they would offer. The only thing that would really matter is where Garnett wants to go. Every team wants him and every team would be willing to put something on the table for him. But Garnett doesn't want to go just anywhere. He wants to win championships. I think he would realize that his best shot would be in LA with a coach with 9 rings and arguably the best player in the league alongside one of the top 15 players in the league.
I agree with it all, but considering some of the more recent Champions include the Heat, Pistons, Spurs...I think in today's NBA, KG coudl help a number of teams get over the hump. LA beneftis with Kobe and Phil, but the other options are, well, still viable options. - Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, KG and filler = good team. - Melo, Camby, Josh Smith and filler = good team, plus if Camby stayed healthy KG would finally get to play with the type of center he should be playing with - Lebron and the Cavs = get out of the East, fight it out in the Finals. - Agent 0, Antwan, KG and filler = same besides which, you also had the Knicks in there, which won't win with or without KG. honestly, the Bulls are probably the best option, but they'd have to give up 1 of Deng, Hinrich or Gordon and if I'm Minnesota I make them throw in Nocioni, too, and/or Tyrus Thomas. which I'd do if I'm both parties. I'm no salary cap expert, either, but another part of the problem is that KG makes so much, and a lot of the bulls players are still on small deals.
Is Garnett not part of the reason why his team does not have other talents? I mean his pay check is so big, Minny can't afford anyone else...
